Could maternal stress be a causal factor for nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate: A retrospective study

Background: The etiology of the nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate is multifactorial and not clearly defined.

Objective: To determine whether maternal stress could be a causal factor for the occurrence of nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate.

Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study in which data from 50 mothers of children born with nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate and 50 mothers of noncleft children were analyzed. The outcomes defined were to study the association between the increased stress scores and the occurrence of nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test.

Results: The association between the high maternal stress scores and the occurrence of nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate was not found to be significant (P = 0.3220). A significant association was noted between increased maternal age and increased stress levels in the cleft group (P = 0.0001).

Conclusion: No significant association was found between the increased stress scores and the occurrence of nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate. However, mothers of cleft children whose age was 35 years and above at the time of conception were noted to have higher stress levels.